Timing mechanism



April 29, 1958 R. M. MANNING 2,8 0

ammc MECHANISM Filed Dec. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ralph M. Manning g;-2 by His Ari'orney April 1953 R. M. MANNING 2,832,408

TIMING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvemor:

Raiph M. Manning -W@ ,W J

United States Patent THVIING MECHANISM Ralph M. Manning, West Medford,Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New YorkApplication December 27, 1954, Serial No. 477,903

Claims. (Cl. 161-1) This invention relates generally to a timingmechanism and, more particularly, to improvements in the type of timingmechanism having a rotating timing dial on which are mounted controlelements intended to control the actuation of suitable control armsforming a part of an electrical switch mechanism or other similarelectromechanical device.

Heretofore, it has been common to provide such mechanisms in which thecontrol elements are permanently mounted on the dial. Such form ofconstruction normally required the manufacturer to select somepredetermined number of elements and standardize on the manufacturethereof, thereby resulting in a device capable of complete but selectivecontrol through a twelve or twentyfour hour period, depending upon thedial used, but satisfying a need for far less capabilities. For example,with a twenty-four hour dial, it has been customary to provide the unitswith ninety-six control elements permanently located on the dial,whereas in many instances only a halfdozen or so would be required tohandle the timing cycle under consideration.

Furthermore, such control elements should be readily adjustable to atleast two control positions to give the associated mechanism desiredversatility, which, in the case of an electrical switch mechanism, wouldcomprise at least an on and off position for each control element used.Facility of use and simplicity of design are paramount considerationsfor this feature of the device so that economy of manufacture can beproperly combined with excellent performance when the device is in use.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a timingmechanism of the type described in which the number of control elementsneed not be fixed during manufacture thereof but can be selected atrandom by the user of the device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a timing mechanism ofthe type described in which the units are marketed with the readilyinsertable control elements furnished as an accessory thereof inpreselected quantities in accordance with specific customerrequirements, without sacrificing economies of manufacture so necessaryto retain desirable cost levels.

.It is yet another object of the invention to provide a novel form ofcontrol element for the type of mechanism described in which inserting,removal, and adjustment are extremely simple operations and yet notwithout the characteristics of positive positioning and locking when inuse.

liriefly, the invention comprises a rotating timing dial provided with aplurality of evenly spaced apertures ar ranged annularly therein andintended to cooperate with a novel control element. This elementincludes a pair of fingers that may be moved toward each other against aresilient restraining .force to permit insertion within the dialapertures after which the fingers are released to move tightly againstopposite edges of the aperture to remain securely and positively inplace. The elements are pivotally mounted on the dial such that portionsthereof may vtending to spread said fingers against the abuttingcontiguous aperture edges.

2,832,408 Patented Aprl 29, 1958 be selectively positioned at either afirst or a second control position, there being a combined detent-camportion which facilitates positioning and locking of the elements.

The invention will be best understood upon reference to the detaileddescription set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawingsannexed hereto, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a timing mechanism, with the timing dialpartially cut away, and showing a plurality of control elements mountedon the upper section of the dial;

Figure 2 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, with twoadditional control elements added to the dial on opposite edges thereof;

Figure 3 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, but withonly two control elements shown in the alternative control positions;

Figure 4 is a partial side view of the mechanism shown in Figure 3,showing the top control element in its alternative control position; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a control element in one controlposition and parts of associated structure, together with a dotted viewsuperimposed thereon to show the alternative control position of theelement.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a timing mechanism comprisinga main support plate 6 on which is journalled for rotation the timingdial 7, which in the embodiment illustrated .is a twenty-four hour dial.The dial has rigidly afiixed thereto the hub 8 which in turn surroundsand rotates on the post 9 which in turn may be rigidly attached to theplate 6. The forward end of post 9 has a small threaded aperture thereinto cooperate with a screw 11 provided to permit setting of the arrow 12in any predetermined position. Although shown at a slight angle to thevertical axis, the normal position of the arrow is upright, and, incombination with the scale on the dial, it indicates the time.

The hub 8 has attached thereto the gear 13 which meshes with a suitablegear-train 14 interposed between gear 13 and pinion 15. The pinion 15 isconnected to the shaft of a suitable timing motor 16, which may beeither spring-wound or electric, and from this it is seen how the dial 7is driven through its timing cycle. Shafts supporting the various gearassemblies making up the gear train 14 have one end journalled in themain plate 6 and their other end journalled in an auxiliary supportplate 17 mounted on plate 6 and spaced therefrom by suitable spacermembers 18 and cooperating screws 19. An insulating block 20 may beattached, as shown, to the lower end of plate 6 by means of screws orthe like, having suitable terminals 20' therein for connection of thetiming mechanism to any desired external circuit.

The dial 7 has a plurality of evenly spaced apertures 21 arrangedannularly therein to selectively and individually receive therein thecontrol elements 22. Looking now at Figure 5, it is seen that theelement 22 comprises a substantially key-shaped member having the outermanipulable portion 23 and the inner resilient portion comprising theoutwardly extending juxtaposed fingers 24, 25.

The fingers 24, 25 are formed such that there is some resiliency,whereby any squeezing or moving of the fingers together is against theresilient restraining force built into the fingers. The restrainingforce is insufficient to hamper quick and easy insertion of the elementsinto the dial apertures, but it is sufiicient to hold the elementssecurely out. The resiliency in the element 22, in combination with thedimensioning of apertures 21, provides'a biasing force away from eachother 9; J .A second dial 26 is provided, behind the dial 6, having aseries of open-ended slots 27 corresponding to the annularly arrangedapertures 21 so that the extremities of fingers 24, 25 rest thereon whenthe control elements are inserted into apertures 21. The dial 26 isprovided to reinforce the mounting arrangement of the elements andprevent any tendency of them to wobble.

The finger 24 is provided with a substantially V-shaped groove 28cooperating with its contiguous aperture edge, and finger 25 has a pairof transversely extending portions in the form of inner and outercontrol ears 2), 31

lying on opposite sides of dial 7 and spaced apart by the arcuate camsection 32.

It is important to note the arrangement of the ears, 1. e., the outerear is perpendicular to the aXis of the fingers, whereas the inner earis at an acute angle with respect to this axis.

In the full-line or first control position shown in Figure 5, thecontrol ear 31 is adjacent the dial 7, whereas in the dotted lineposition corresponding to the second control position, the member 29 isadjacent plate 17. In moving the control element away from the full-lineposition, motion of the element toward the dial center permits the camsection 32 to automatically squeeze the fingers together and permitfinger 29 to pivot about its contiguous aperture edge and thereby allowthe element 22 to move to its alternate position.

The finger 24 is provided with the sloping or tapered edge 24 to furtherfacilitate insertion and removal of the element. The remove the element,it is only necessary to move it to the dotted position shown in Figure5, press the fingerstogether, and then pull out by pivoting the elementabout its cam surface 32. The sloping edge 24 will clear the upper edgeof its associated aperture and permit the element to be quickly removed.When inserting the element within the apertures, the reverse of theaforesaid procedure takes place, in that ear 29 would be inserted, afterwhich the cam surfacewould press the fingers together, and the elementwould be moved upwardly and inwardly until the groove 23 snaps over theaperture edge and the cam section 32 snaps behind the dial.

The control elements are intended to selectively actuate first andsecond control arms in the form of on arm 33 and ed arm 34, both ofwhich are pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 35 carried on the reverseside of plate 6. An aperture 36 is provided in the plate to permit theelement engaging portions of the arms to come through, and it is seenthat both of these portions are substantially wedge-shaped members. Thecontrol arms are con tiguous to the apertured portion of dial 7, theybeing arranged on opposite sides of the plate, as shown. Moreover, thecontrol arms may have actuating portions extending downward from pivotshaft 35 to suitable control mechanism in the form of electrical contactmembers or the like. However, these parts have not been shown as theyform no part of the subject invention and have, therefore, been omittedin the interests of brevity. Sufiice to say that the control arms 33, 34are movable and thereby perform a control action. It is their forwardend that is important to an understanding of the invention, and it hasbeen shown for this reason.

Referring now to Figure 3, it is seen that the element 22 is in itsrelatively level or horizontal position, with control ear 31 contiguousto the face of dial 7. The wedge portion of arm 33 hangs down in itspath and when the dial moves the element relative to the arm 33, theparts cooperate to move the arm about the pivot 35. In this position,the control ear 29 extends outwardly at an angle behind the overhangingwedge portion of arm 34 and is thus completely out of contact therewith.The wedge portion fits neatly into the space between the ear 29 and camsection 32 such that no control action is obtained.

In Figure 3, element 22 is shown in its second control position, havingbeen manually pivoted in the dial 7, and

the reverse of the aforesaid action takes place. Thus, the control car29 engages the wedge portion of arm 34 to move it about pivot 35,whereas the wedge portion of arm 33 fits neatly into the space betweencar 31 and cam section 32.

Thus, control element 22 has a first control position, in which one ofits control arm engaging portions co operates with one of the controlarms to perform a first control action, and has a second controlposition, in which its other control arm engaging portion cooperateswith the other control arm to perform a second control action.

From the above, it will be seen that a substantially improved timingmechanism has been achieved. The dial 7 may be provided with ninety-sixapertures to permit control actions every fifteen minutes throughout atwentyfour hour period. However, it need not be manufactured withninety-six permanently assembled control elements but, on the contrary,can be made with as few as two elements furnished as accessories andintended to perform one on action and one o action per day, in the caseof a switch device or other similar unit. Greater numbers of elements upto ninety-six may be furnished with the mechanism to provide the rangeof control desired, there being a great flexibility in this respect.

Moreover, the configuration of the fingers with the groove in one andthe control ears spaced by the cam section in the other provides anelement that is extremely easy to manipulate for control settingpurposes without detracting from its positive locking features.

Therefore, while a particular embodiment of the subject invention hasbeen shown and described herein, it is in the nature of descriptionrather than limitation, and it will occur to those skilled in the artthat various changes, modifications, and combinations may be made withinthe province of the appended claims, and without departing either inspirit or scope from this invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a timing mechanism, in combination: a rotating timing dial havinga plurality of spaced apertures arranged annularly therein, a pluralityof insertable removably mounted control elements to be carried by saiddial in said apertures and being selectively mo able to first and secondcontrol positions, and first and second movably mounted control memberscontiguous to said dial on opposite sides thereof and adapted to move oncontact with said control elements, said first control mem' ber movingwhen said elements are in said first control position and said secondcontrol member moving when said elements are in said second controlposition, each.

of said elements having first and second outwardly extending juxtaposedfingers movable together against a resilient restraining force to permitinsertion thereof into said apertures, said fingers being biasedoutwardly against opposite edges of said apertures when in place, saidelements being pivotally mounted whereby one of said fingers may beselectively moved to said first and second control positions, said onefinger having control arm engaging portions arranged on opposite sidesof said dial.

2. In a timing mechanism, in combination: a rotating timing dial havinga plurality of evenly spaced apertures arranged annularly therein, aplurality of removably mounted control members adapted to be insertedinto said apertures and beingselectively movable to first and secondcontrol positions, and first and second movably mounted control armshaving portions contiguous to said dial on opposite sides thereof in thepath of said control elements and movable thereby upon engagementtherewith, said first control arm moving when said control elements arein said first position and said second control arm moving when saidcontrol elements are in said second position, each of said controlelements having a pair of outwardly extending juxtaposed fingers movabletogether against a resilient restaining force to permit insertion ofsaid fingers into said apertures, said fingers being biased outwardlyagainst opposite edges of said apertures when in place, one of saidfingers having a groove cooperating with its abutting aperture edge toform a pivotal mounting for the control element, the other finger havingspaced transversely extending control arm engaging portions arranged onopposite sides of said dial and separated by a cam surface, said camsurface operating to move the fingers together to permit motion from onecontrol position to the other.

3. In a timing mechanism, in combination: a rotating timing dial havinga plurality of evenly spaced apertures arranged annularly therein, aplurality of removably mounted control members adapted to be insertedinto said apertures and being selectively movable to first and secondcontrol positions, and first and second movably mounted control armshaving portions contiguous to said dial on opposite sides thereof in thepath of said control elements and movable thereby upon engagementherewith, said first control arm moving when said control elements arein said first position and said second control arm moving when saidcontrol elements are in said second position, each of said controlelements having a pair of outwardly extending juxtaposed fingers movabletogether against a resilient restraining force to permit insertion ofsaid fingers into said apertures, said fingers being biased outwardlyagainst opposite edges of said apertures when in place, one of saidfingers having a groove cooperating with its abutting aperture edge toform a pivotal mounting for the control element, the other finger havingspaced transversely extending control arm engaging ears arranged onopposite sides of said dial and separated by an outwardly convex camsurface, said cam surface operating to move the fingers together topermit motion from one control position to the other.

4. In a timing mechanism, in combination: a. rotating timing dial havinga plurality of evenly spaced apertures arranged annularly therein, aplurality of removably mounted control members adapted to be insertedinto said apertures and being selectively movable to first and secondcontrol positions, and first and second movably mounted control armshaving portions contiguous to said dial on opposite sides thereof in thepath of said control elements and movable thereby upon engagementtherewith, said first control arm moving when said control elements arein said first position and said second control arm moving when saidcontrol elements are in said second position, each of said controlelements having a pair of outwardly extending juxtaposed inner and outerfingers movable together against a resilient restraining force to permitinsertion of said fingers into said apertures, said fingers being biasedoutwardly against opposite edges of said apertures when in place, saidinner finger being tapered and having a groove cooperating with itsabutting aperture edge to form a pivotal mounting for the controlelement, said other finger having spaced transversely extending controlarm engaging ears arranged on opposite sides of said dial and separatedby an outwardly convex cam surface, said cam surface operating to movethe fingers together to permit motion from one control position to theother.

5. in a timing mechanism, in combination: a rotating timing dial havinga plurality of evenly spaced apertures arranged annularly therein, aplurality of removably mounted control members adapted to be insertedinto said apertures and being selectively movable to first and secondcontrol positions, and first and second movably mounted control armshaving portions contiguous to said dial on opposite sides thereof in thepath of said control elements and movable thereby upon engagementtherewith, said first control arm moving when said control elements arein said first position and said second control arm moving when saidcontrol elements are in said second position, each of said controlelements having a pair of outwardly extending juxtaposed inner and outerfingers movable together against a resilient restraining force to permitinsertion of said fingers into said apertures, said fingers being biasedoutwardly against opposite edges of said apertures when in place, saidinner finger being tapered and having a groove cooperating with itsabutting aperture edge to form a pivotal mounting for the controlelement, said other finger having spaced transversely extending controlarm engaging inner and outer ears arranged on opposite sides of saiddial and separated by an outwardly convex cam surface, said outer earbeing substantially perpendicular to the axis of said fingers and saidinner ear being at an acute angle with respect to said axis, said camsurface operating to move the fingers together to permit motion from onecontrol position to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS983,705 Hansen Feb. 7, 1911 2,096,620 Robertson Oct. 19, 1937 2,533,877Chikan Dec. 12, 1950 2,596,330 Everard May 13, 1952 2,695,342 v Junghanset al. Nov. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 105,720 Sweden Oct. 20, 1942

